SLUM CHILDREN in Kolkata, India played a football match yesterday dressed in a Swilly Rovers kit – thanks to volunteer Barry Mooney, who is at the end of a six-week stay.
Mooney, who is on a volunteering mission with The Hope Foundation, extended his initial month-long trip by a fortnight, but will travel home to Ramelton again this weekend.
Mooney signed up for the venture last year while he was a student at NUI Galway.
This week, Mooney and another volunteer, Araf Mohammed, who have been training children from Hope’s childrens home a few times a week, arranged a game.
[adrotate group=”88″]Mohammed is from Leicester and the Premier League champions also donated a kit played a game against Mooney’s Swilly (‘Leicester’, for the record, won 2-1).
“Most of the kids play in their bare feet which is incredible,” Mooney said.
“I’ve tried it over here and it really is amazing that they can play barefoot.
“Myself and Araf are going to set up sports equipment banks for The Hope Foundation where we are going to be looking for any old football boots, trainers, jerseys, training gear etc and distribute it between Hope’s Homes around Kolkata.
[adrotate group=”80″]“The lads are aged 8-16 and absolutely love football. I think it’s the same as China where football is just beginning to take a grip and a bit of exercise does the boys the world of good.
“They really enjoyed it – and myself and Araf did also.”
Mooney plays with Ulster Senior League team Swilly and says he took the decision to travel with Hope to get a ‘chance to do something worthwhile’.
He added: “It has been an unbelievable experience; real eye-opening stuff. It’s really rewarding.”
